MST3K:Tormented

This is my first venture into the land of MST. The local cinema has a running program of B movies showing every Thursday night and Tormented is on the schedule so I thought I'd prep myself by seeing how the boys at MST handled it. Thank goodness Joel and the 'bots are so hilarious with their wisecracks because I'd have a hard time sitting through Tormented otherwise. It's just one zinger after another as I'm sure all you MST fans know fully well. Some of my favorites in this episode are after the ghost of Tom's ex-girlfriend Vi comes to haunt him he lashes out saying "you're just a shadow perhaps...light perhaps", to which Crow quickly adds "..a bit of beef, an underdone potato" the same comment Ebenezer Scrooge makes in A Christmas Carol one of my all-time favorite movies. Later when the ghostly Vi ruines Tom's fiancee's wedding dress and she shrieks "MY WEDDING DRESS!!", Servo shoots back "NOW IT'S GAA BAGE" which is what Oscar sneers off to Felix after winging his plate of LINGUINI on their kitchen wall in The Odd Couple.Tom racing to the top of the lighthouse where Vi fell from calls out to her ghost "Vi! Vi!" to which Joel cracks in a suitably german inflection "Vi ask Vi!" One of the secondary characters, a hipster cat who comes to blackmail Tom is played by one Joe Turkel and as soon as he appears on screen, the boys quip "it's Lou Reed!" who Joe definitely resembles but more importantly Joe Turkel played Lloyd the bartender in Kubrick's The Shining. I recognized him immediately and I was very surprised the sharp crew at MTS did not. Only negative comment I have is the audio of Tormented is pretty fuzzy. I had to strain to make out what they were saying half the time. I love the rotating MST3K off-white planet-I'd like to get that image on a t-shirt. I liked the boys movie 'commentary' so much I think I'm gonna seek this disc out for purchase. And am also now considering myself a fan of MST. welcome to the club right?                      9/13/08

Moma's Man

The overhead shot of the Jacobs' loft and the many views from within I found extremely interesting. Another favorite scene is when Mikey goes to visit his friend the 2nd time and is influenced by his friend's means of survival which helps to re-right his own ship. The surprise entrance by the always trusty Richard Edson added a spark of optimism just when you thought all was quite bleek. You really get to know Flo and Ken Jacobs-her loving and nurturing affection for her son and his wise and patient relationship with him. She holds her son in her arms, his confusion and frustration no match for her eternal caring. This scene, where she is cradling him and comforting him, morphs into an antique 30 second film of this man as a child sleeping and at peace. This is a real piece of film, a time capsule from the vault, that I assume was taken by Ken. The placement of it at this critical point in Momma's Man was for me the highpoint of the film.. That was when I said "this just got placed on my list"....you know, the list of best movies of the year-that list. Another perfect moment is when Mikey wants to lay the blame and his father stops him right there and says 'have we ever lied to you'. So many great moments in this movie. We get to peek into the work of Ken Jacobs and it's facinating to watch the focus on his face. Love the closing shot and what it meant. Even his high school song, explective laden to the teeth, had me humming along with him during the closing credits. thank you for making this Azazel. I just wish that shot of you sleeping in your supper had panned up all the way to see your mothers' face but.......that's okay. tears are a good thing and I ran some watching this.                       9/25/08

Invaders From Mars

The image of the backyard path curving up the hill alongside a wooden fence leading to the ominous pit of white sand that has a habit of devouring unsuspecting citizens had nestled deep in my subconsious after watching this on tv as a young'un. But that's all I remembered as I watched this again this week. I did not remember the laughable baggy, satiny sacks of costume the actors playing the martians, or muTANTs as they are referred to in the movie, had to wear. I didn't remember the loving parents or the police chief or the little girl who get sucked into the white sand pit and return as stiff martian servants. And I definately did not remember Helena Carter, in her final film rolm, as Dr. Blake who comes to the rescue, helping David defeat the awful martians and getting his loving parents back. From the moment she is introduced in her long white dress with the dash of red up on the shoulder I was intriqued. But what really struck me was the sound of her speaking voice. I wish I could describe it but it's a case of you just have to see the movie to understand what I'm talking about. It's almost like she has some kind of accent but it's not really that. My question is, is there a woman alive today that sounds like this?! I think this tone, or texture of speaking expired sometime in the 1950's. I know this has nothing to do with Invaders From Mars but I just wanted to comment on that. Other than that I give much praise to this classic '50's film. The look, the characters and the story are all hall of fame worthy. p.s.watch for a very small part with Barbara Billingsley, the Beaver's mother                              10/7/08

MST3K:Mitchell

One of the best MST episodes without a doubt. Oh wait, I've only seen a couple. But STILL, even before the opening credits finished, I felt like I got my money's worth. The title graphics appears all sqooshed together and Joel sees......"Mittens??" Crow-"Joe Don Baker IS Mittens!...he's a cop". Joel "Oh wait, it's Mitchell." Servo-"oh, the Martha Mitchell story..Joe Don Baker IS Martha Mitchell!" The credits roll on with a vintage 70's soundtrack. Servo-"Any movie with 'wakka cha wakka cha' is okay by me!", as all three fall in chanting 'wakka cha wakka cha wakka cha wakka'. But it just never stops. The story begins and it's just non-stop...the jokes that is. It's so great. Some guy makes a phone call calling someone named Rudy. "Rudy!" ..Servo shoots in "Tootie!" The laugh a minute big car 'chase' hits with the two slow rolling vehicles entering the highway-"Hot merging action!" A grim looking mobster sits on a park bench. Crow-"Did I tell you I'm Italian. Let me restate that." My favorite gag of all is one scene where MITCHELL! is arguing with some kid, back and forth and back and forth, forcing Servo to scream "ARRRRGGGGGGGGhh!" What I'm finding with these MST3K episodes is I'm building a love affair with Tom Servo and Crow. I just love their quips and the sound of their voices AND the way they look when they're saying them! I was watching one episode from the first season and Tom's voice sounded different and I was pretty alarmed. I needed my Kevin Murphy Tom, not the guy who did Servo's voice in season 1. Joel I like better than Mike although I'll probably warm up to Mike somewhere down the line. Mitchell being Joel's final show you can tell he's a little 'misty' during the opening. In conclusion, Mitchell is a perfect fit for Joel and the robots. It just lends itself to their zingers all the way through. I'm just gonna have to buy this methinks. One of the best MST3K episodes I've seen. (I've only seen about 3)...so far!                                     10/21/08

The Ghost Breakers

Starring the delightful Paulette Goddard, wearing one fetching Edith Head designed outfit after another. Paulette is about to inherit a spooky castle in Cuba, of all places. This being 1940, Cuba is described in the movie as "truly the island of romance" and "vacationland!". Just as she is set to sign the papers, she and Bob Hope, whom she has befriended, are given dire warnings of the evil that lurks upon the estate..."A zombie has no will of its own. You see them sometimes walking around blindly, with dead eyes, following orders, not knowing what they do, not caring", to which Bob shoots back "You mean like Democrats?". But spunky Paulette signs anyway and leaves a stormy Manhattan for the long voyage to the 'island of romance' with Bob scrunched up in her travel trunk. Creepy events soon begin to take place after arriving in Havana(looking very spiffy back then) when Paulette and Bob accompanied by his manservant(remember them?!)head over to the cobwebbed filled castle. I would like to mention Pedro de Cordoba who plays the Cuban consulate helping Paulette in signing her papers of ownership. He only appears in one scene(the opening scene)but he carried the air of a true gentleman, very debonair and regal. I'm trying to think if there are men like him to be found in our present day and I'm drawing a big blank. That aside, I recommend this black and white classic produced by Arthur Hornblow Jr.                              11/3/08

What Just Happened?

Deniro's character is very unsympathetic in this movie. I'm wondering why he wanted to play this character? Just to put us through the unpleasantness of getting to know someone who can't stop taking phone calls when his ex-wife is trying to talk with him about how much she hurts? And then later, on the phone, trying to convince same ex-wife that is it HE who is hurting, only to hang up and jump right back into business like the sun just came up. The director of the movie he is producing is a cartoon characterization of Keith Richard and I dreaded every scene he was in from the moment he opened his gecko-cum austrailian accent. There is an agent played by John Turturo that eventually got me up on my feet and walking out of this numbing movie. I did make one final summation during the last few minutes of enduring this and that is that this is a perfect example of why a movie is shelved, remains there and is not available for the public. Someone thought this should be seen. I would've stored it up on the shelf and never have spoken about it again.                  11/6/08

Sex Pistols:There'll Always Be an England

Great dvd. A foot tour of London, ducking in all the nooks and cranny's, conducted by Steve, Paul and Glen and with John who also guides us around the once great empire via atop a double deck bus. John's outlook and observations and bile are always on the surface. Steve Paul and Glen give their part of the walking tour in a bit more of a relaxed fashion. Love the mid-day lunch Steve and Paul have, popping into their favorite hole-in-the-wall to nip into some pie 'n' mash.This is a dish with a large scoop of mashed potatoes off to one side sitting in a pool of gravy with I believe liquour mixed in along with a small baked pie with peas inside placed in the dish opposite the mash. Generous amounts of vinegar and salt are applied during the eating as demonstrated by Steve and Paul. Sorry for the digression there :) The tour of London is long, detailed and you get a full education on what was, what is and what's not. And what shouldn't be. Like that bleedin BICYCLE WHEEL! The other half of this presentation is a full-on concert by the modern day Pistols held before a rapturous, adoring audience. Each song from 'Bollocks' is trotted out, proving once again, what a shrine to modern music this album was/is. The band don't leave any fans unhappy as they include 'did you no wrong' and 'roadrunner' and 'no fun'. Watch for a special moment at the conclusion of their set, after the last beat of EMI is hit. The tour of London together with the flawless concert make this a perfect disc. Bloody F...ing marvelous!          11/19/08

MST3K:Swamp Diamonds

This disc, which includes "what to do on a date" is worth it just for this short alone. Joel and the bots' heckling of this 50's instructional film is easily 10X funnier than the feature Swamp Diamonds. Next good reason to pick this disc are the skits starting with the crew mimicking Spock and Kirk followed by Tom's asking out Gypsy on a date after being inspired by the short. Practicing what to say to woo Gypsy on the phone, Tom repeats the mantra "I'm a good person, I'm a great guy ,I've got a lot to offer, this'll be FUN"...."I cover the waterfront....". And then, and then, there is Swamp Diamonds. This was pretty tough to sit through even WITH the guys' comical commentary. But, ya know, there was no hurry to return the disc so I played it again. And ya know what...I actually started to like the film MORE, AND the comic comments got even funnier the 2nd time through! I could recite a WHOLE bunch of lines but I just wanna get in this one during the opening credits when the screen reads "introducing Jill Jarmyn" with Joel reading it as 'introducing and saying goodbye to Jill Jarmyn'. Here's the thing with Swamp Diamonds..I kind of conducted an experiment being that I watched it...a THIRD time, but let me tell you, I now don't want to send it back! Swamp Diamonds just gets more and more fun to watch each time and the guys jokes get funnier and funnier with each repeat viewing! Solution and final summation-Swamp Diamonds together with the hilarious 'what to do on a date' along with Tom's venture into date-land make this not a must see but a must OWN.           12/4/08

The Holy Modal Rounders:Born To Lose

The Holy Modal Rounders: Bound to Lose

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The main menu has a great photograph of Peter and Steve while one of their songs called Euphoria plays in its entirety. I listened to this many times and for my money's worth it is the perfect representation of their music. Humorous lyrics with Peter singing a high harmony part to Steve's lead vocal with Steve on guitar and Peter on fiddle. But it's HOW they sing it. Steve with a very sort of sarcastic delivery and Peter with an indescribable almost cartoon-like comic voice. It's quite a trademark. Other things I liked in this documentary were the telling of how they were once part of The Fugs and extensive filming at both men's present day homes-Peter with his wife and 2 daughters in New York and Steve living out in the Pennsylvania countryside with his mother in a delapedated farm house. There are lots of scenes of Peter, Steve and the rest of the Modal Rounders rehearsing and performing for their 2000 reunion. One irritating appearance is made by journalistic know-it-all Robert Cristgau who over the course of his assessment of Peter and Steve deems Joan Baez "P U!" letting his mouth hang open. Charming. But that aside, I came away from this film with a love and respect for Peter and his good natured personality and unique singing style and wonderful performing. And a nagging urgency to collect some H.M.R.'s records to listen to. There is an excellent chapter on the group in the book "Unknown Legends of Rock 'n' Roll" by Richie Unterberger which I pulled off of my shelf and tore into upon completion of viewing of this documentary.         12/9/08

Dear Mr. Fantasy

The highlights,for me,were Paul Weller and house band performing a spectacular rendition of Paper Sun. The band and Paul hit all the nuance of the song, probably Jim and Traffic's finest moment. Simon Kirk sings very nicely Whale Meat Again. Joe Walsh, with Jon Lord on Hammond and Bill Wyman, bass, do 40,000 Headmen and John Barleycorn Must Die. Joe straining just a little with age to hit all them high notes pretty successfully. But the most surprising highlight of this disc, one I did not anticipate at all is the appearance of the former Cat Stevens. After a very warm introduction to the song Man Without A Country I was very pleased that Cat/Yusef has not lost any range or delicacy in his singing. One of the last of the old guard that still sounds like his younger self. This performance made me a fan of this song of which I knew nothing prior. And then Gary Moore, of whom I knew basically nothing other than name recognition. Turns out Gary sings with a very strong, gutsy voice and is easily one of the best guitarists today. After hearing Gary sing here,I'd love to hear the original version by Jim. Weller returns with a rendition of the little heard Traffic single "Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush"-just delightful! I'm so glad he chose to do this song, it's a real treat. And the version Paul and the house band perform is spectacular. Definately a highlight. Pete Townsend's appearance is just him and his acoustic guitar singing "No Face No Name No Number" which is a beautiful song as done originally on the first Traffic album. Pete takes a valiant stab at the song but it just made me yearn to hear the original again. Jim's brother Phil came out on stage looking rather like a cabbie or a dishwasher perhaps but I have to tell you, Phil sang really good with loads of feeling and professionalism. And the fact that this is Jim's brother permeated the atmosphere like no other performer there that night could bring. A definate highlight.          2/14/09

MST3K:Beginning of the End

....only the intrepid reporter played by Peggy Castle saved me from ditching this yawner by the 3rd chapter. That is when she makes her appearance driving her shiny-new, boat-sized pink and white Cadillac convertible. Honestly, though Peggy is the eye candy here, it is, as usual, the excellent wisecracks provided by Tom, Crow and Mike that keep this ho-hummer afloat. Another thing I liked with this disc are the bonus sneak previews of 3 other MST3K titles Rhino provides...The Brain That Wouldn't Die, Eeegah and The Wild World of Batwoman. Lucky me, my trusty rental shop has this on its shelf because it is now becoming quite pricey to buy 2nd-hand and Netty either lost theirs or never got around to securing a copy in the first place.                2/16/09

Woman on the Run

It would be great to see a sharp print of this but the movie is so good, the less than pristine quality didn't stop me from enjoying it. San Francisco plays background to our characters here, and there ARE some gorgeous shots of the city,such as Ann Sheridan's Mrs. Johnson walking down a steep sunny sidewalk or the very first scene in which her husband is out walking the dog one night, climbing the steps of a city park, lighting a match on a posted sign "Curb Your Dog". At first, Ann's unattractive hairdo was a little alarming but as her patented wit and humor surface so does her charm and long-lasting appeal. Head detective,trying to locate the missing Mr. Johnson,starts digging into their messy marriage:"Didn't you try to get a job?" Mrs. J., incredulously:"Why should I? That's his responsibility not mine."(just a taste of the good ol' days).A nosey reporter trying to dig up the facts from the protective wife:"Where's your husband Mrs. Johnson?"/"I don't know"/"Did he see the killer?"/"I don't know"/"Shall we dance?"/"Why don't you drop dead!" A nice little movie with a little bit of everything to please everyone. Boy would I like to see a sharp print of this! But check it out nevertheless-it's buried treasure. P.S.the cover scan Netty provides is actually for a 1993 made-for-TV mini-series called "Woman on The Run:The Lawrencia Bembenek Story" starring Tatum O'Neal but you'll still get the Ann Sheridan 1950 film                   2/26/09

MST3K:Time Chasers

sorry, but I only have the teeny tiniest bit of recommendation for this and it's not even the movie. i'm talking about the opening segment in the satellite of love before the movie begins. we are treated to Crow's impersonation of Dr. Smith from the tv series Lost In Space. it is SOOOOOO FUNNNNYYYYYY!!! and the whole while, Servo is flying around Mike and Crow like a chicken with its head cut off,squawking some non-stop nonsensical jibberish, until Mike finally smashes him off camera. I loved it!! so I HAD to alert everyone! ......and now back to your regularly scheduled reviews.....              3/3/09

The Night Evelyn Came Out Of The Grave

This movie doesn't really have much to do with 'swinging 1970's London' which is what made me rent it in the first place. It's in Italian and listening to them speak Italian while trying to keep up with the English subtitles got tiring. Opens with a couple of gruesome butcherings for all you sadists out there and then cools off for a while as your madman-hero falls in love. I'll grant you, the disc does come with a wealth of bonus features that ought to make the fans of this type of flick happy. But if you want a good 'swinging 1970's London' movie try "There's A Girl In My Soup" or if you want to mix in some horror with the 'swinging 1970's London', "Dracula A.D. 1972" fits the bill.         3/8/09

Henry Poole Is Here

Just watch the preview-it's an excellent capsule of what this movie is. It made me rent it. Am very glad I did. Was very impressed with the opening song called Love The Loveless by eels and it fit the introductory montage perfectly. Aside from Luke Wilson's sturdy part and Radha Mitchell's luminous-ness(finally found out her name is pronounced ROD-DAH-thank you "making of..")I enjoyed the part played by Adriana Barraza, a friendly neighbor and George Lopez's man of the cloth. Adorable newcomer Morgan Lily was just, as I like to put it, too cute by half. Was a treat to see veteran Richard Benjamin in a small role. After the movie was over I watched the 'Making of' bonus feature which was wonderful and there was a 2 page essay by director Mark Pellington that came inside the Dvd case(I rented this from a rental store)that explained how he came to make this movie and what was going on in his life that reflected the story of Henry. A shame this can not be provided if you rent this from Netty. Nevertheless, this movie is heartwarming, funny and thought-provoking and I recommend it highly! And don't forget to have a hanky handy.       3/17/09

Fillmore:The Last Days

I'm not a big Grateful Dead fan but I think I picked up on the 'magic' while watching them churn through Casey Jones in this documentary. The first thing that grabbed me was watching how Jerry Garcia sang this song. His is a very clean, sweet-toned voice, delivered in a relaxed but crisp manner. But the 'magic' came as the song drew toward it's finale as the chorus is repeated over and over, well past the point I would have expected it to end. When the build-up finally broke and they eased into that last "..and you know that notion, just crossed my mind" I knew I had just run head-long into what every dead-head has experienced. That was the highpoint of this disc for me but all of the footage of Bill Graham taking phone calls, interacting with band members and public and bonding with his young son I truly enjoyed too. QuicksilverM.S. with Dino singing Fresh Air was a real treat and speaking of great to watch, we get two shots of Lydia Pense and Cold Blood showing there was more than just one Janis Joplin in town. I didn't think Hot Tuna really needed the services of Papa John Creach but they obviously wanted to embellish their sound with some violin so you get two samples of that line-up. It's a Beautiful Day render a flawless rendition of White Bird and Lamb, a group I sure never heard of, provide two excellent songs and yet another gal lead-singer busting the pipes ala miss Joplin.        6/1/09

Route 66:Season 1:Vol.1

I watched the "Play It Glissando" (play it cooool)episode because of guest star Ann Francis. She plays the wife of a jazz trumpeter played by Jack Lord. They are going through some marital difficulties and Jana (Francis) is perceived to be the main troublemaker by Buz and Tod who almost get killed when Jana rams her car into theirs one night along the coast highway. She's running scared from Gabe (Lord) with tales of imprisonment and attempted murder. It turns out Gabe is quite the troublemaker himself and by episodes end, Jana is finally able to live a normal life. The thing that 'gassed' me the most is the lingo scattered across this episode...."how are you gonna gas her..."(how are you gonna impress her) and "You dig Gabe Johnson?! INCANDESCENCE!!" and "I heard she was a flip! man they weren't kidding!" The first time we meet Lords' Gabe Johnson, he is onstage, trumpet to lips,blowing some smooth jazz with his quartet. The piece they play, I thought was pretty impressive for network t.v. Special mention to Harold J. Stone playing the lead detective investigating the rift between Mr. and Mrs. Johnson. The stars of Route 66, Milner and Maharis, are a neat duo to watch..the left corner of Milners' mouth in a perpetual state of up-turned-ness and the way Maharis speaks with a unique kind of cadence that I can't put my finger on. I also REALLY liked the bonus early 1960's commercials that you can watch uninterrupted. And Ann Francis...what can I say? A pleasure to watch!          6/17/09

Free:Forever

my review of disc 1: highly recommended! you get 8 performances,all live,no lipsynching. actually there are 9, with the included appearance from the Top of the Pops tv show. The first 3 performances are from the German tv show Beat Club. Free do Mr. Big, Fire and Water and All Right Now, however, this last one is obscured by someone's bright idea of plastering pics of the band OVER them performing! But the first two songs are essential viewing. After a few excellent interviews with the surviving members we are wisked back to a British tv show called "Doin Their Thing" with that nights guests Free. This is what sealed it for me. Free are in massive form with Ride On Pony, Mr. Big, Songs of Yesterday, I'll Be Creepin and All Right Now. There is no shortage of plentiful viewing as the camera lingers on Paul Kossoff's fingers sliding over his fret board, Andy Frasier bopping to and fro as he travels up and down his bass and Simon Kirk holding the foundation, steady and powerful with flashes of feathery accents at just the right moments. Paul Rogers, of course, is front and center and if you are a Paul Rogers fan, you've come to the right place. The rest of the disc included a silent film of Free performing and some home movies. But these 8...9 performances between the Beat Club, Doin' Their Thing and Top Of The Pops are NOT to be missed by not only Free fans but anyone who can dig superb guitar playing, inventive bass playing, expressive drumming and Paul Rogers vocals on top of it all. Queue up disc 1. don't even think about it!      7/4/09

Herb & Dorothy

This film takes you through the decades beginning in the late 1950's to 2008. We see youthful photographs of Dorothy and Herb, he as a interested art appreciator and his new bride whom he takes to museums to cultivate her tastes in the vast art world. They move into a small Manhattan apartment and take up painting in their spare time. Soon they discover other painters in the city and postpone their own painting endeavors, switching to collecting the art of others. Others that are unknown and very affordable to buy. Squeezing more and more art into their modest home, the Vogels finally reach their limit,deciding to bequeath it all to the National Museum. During this film we see many examples of the artwork the Vogels had collected over the years as it is all discussed and critiqued. We learn what type of people the Vogels are, for example not wishing to sell any of the artwork they had collected, which, had they done so, would have yielded them a pretty penny. A very affectionate look into the lives of one married couple with an eye for art.        7/12/09

MST3K:Prince Of Space

First, the host segments: #1 Crow and Tom playing dog and bear with Tom(dog)unmercifully beating on Crow until Crow cries to Mike "Servo took it too farrrrrrr". love it! seg. #2 M&TB's get caught in a time altering worm hole where everthing is 3 seconds before it happens. great fun! seg. #3 more disorientation as the three suddenly appear in a sun filtered forest. unlike any MST3K segment ever put together. sparkling! magical. As for Prince of Space,how this picture did not get nominated by the Academy for best space man costumes I'll never understand. Has to be seen to be believed. Complete with western cowboy holsters to hold their rayguns and fluffy ballerina ruffles to accentuate their under-arm area. The people of Japan are attacked by a hideous(especially their outer garments)species from the planet Krankor lead by the roly-poly Phantom of Krankor who laughs thusly: "HA!" pause "HA!" pause "HA!" pause HA!!" oh the evilness! Fortunately all life on Japan can and WILL be saved by our hero, The Prince of Space, wearing a super hero cape that his mother told him to wear because it might get cold. The pure silliness and out-dated wholesomeness of this movie is relentlessly lampooned by M&TB's. When the people of Japan admit "Gentlemen, this may be our last day on earth", Mike shoots back "Let's hit the karaoke bar!" A ship from earth heads out to defend our planet against the evil space men....Mike:"Truman Capote sent to fight Krankor!" With an 'exchange of deadly negative scratches' and laser guns 'powered by rotted fish' this MST3K episode is non-stop hilarity. Love the broken sentence ideas commited by the 2 small boys which Mike teases with such innanities as "I saw some smoke/ it's time for lunch/look at the street" and "I'm not afraid/I'm wearing a tie/you go home". Great episode for MST3K first timers!         7/17/09

MST3K:Werewolf

Very good host segment #1 with Mike who's turned into James Lipton and then tries to escape the SOL. The other host segment with Mike and friends singing 'where oh where is my werewolf' is pure fun and joy. Great 3-part harmony. As for Werewolf and the ridicule thrust upon, this is right up there with the best of MST3K. During the opening credits we are treated to the theme song "featuring the Bulgarian womens' choir's rendition of Jingle Bells" as well as "the concerto in A minor for cello and werewolf". I now refer you to all the other very informative reviews to get a feel for the main body of the movie and the guy's needling of, but do NOT skip out on the closing credits when Mike and co., sing 20 songs in 3 minutes all to the background closing music. And then you can watch part 3 of a history of MST3K which was excellent. I love the glimpses behind the scenes of the actual televison set where the show was filmed. the ONLY negative comment I have is for Shout Factory's insistance on not providing chapter stops for these discs. I wanted to check something out at the very end of the episode and I'm supposed to FF all the way through the movie??!! Not very helpful Shout. Please correct in future releases thank you. UPDATE: my apologies to Shout who have now INCLUDED chapter stops on their new(post 20th anniversary set)box's.       7/20/09

MST3k: Teenage Strangler

Man this movie is SOOO SQUARE, Mike making the box with his fingers as Yipe Stripes is watoosied out on the lunch counter(the start of the counter culture)by one peppy young lady. Everyone joins in singing YIPE STRIPES!, including M&TB's who offer Seig Heil! That girl gets SO risque with those blooming pantaloons underneath her dress-"oh mama TOLD me not to come"-Servo. It's all very square and very fun as Mike and his robot pals skewer this relic from 1965..."see the incredible school zone action!"..."a daring chase scene well within the confines of the law"..."they're driving at speeds approaching the actual speed limit". A father reprimands his son very sternly, sending him banished to his room causing the concerned mother to utter "I love it when you act like der fuerer honey. Let's commit the marriage act." A teen girl after a long day-"a tumbler of VO, a fistful of yellows and I'll be set for the night." A fight breaks out in the school yard-"this is gonna happen when you serve tuna wiggle for lunch." All these great lines and many more are zinged out by Mike and his pals and then...and then, there is the character of Mikey in the movie. An adolscent with an extensive Streisand collection whom the Amish kids like to beat up and who cries in a pitiful squeel "Oh Jimmmmyyyyy!!" "please give me a swirlie". And my favorite line by Mike- "I just know Mikey ended up in Andy Warhol's factory." Along with this daring movie you also get the B+W short "Is this love?" which is lampooned quite nicely by the crew and there is a bonus MST outakes that didn't have any Joel outtakes most unfortunately but was fun nevertheless. The host segments are all funny culminating in Mikes' rendition of "I'm a janitor" that's guaranteed to bring a tear to your eye.                       8/10/09

The Swimming Pool

Beginning idyllically with Romy and Alain lounging alongside a gorgeous pool on the grounds of the palatial summer home they are vacationing in. The camera lingers over Romys' bathing suit perfect body and all seems placid until the arrival of an old friend, daughter in tow. Daughter Birkin is meant to be fetching but I just don't see it especially in the presence of the exquisite Schneider. But I did like the story as the history between these characters is peeled away. Act 3 and the introduction of a local police officer bring this once calm and playful story to a devious conclusion. I must insist mentioning the presence of Romy Schneider yet again hypnotizing me throughout. The very last scene is a mystery-open for discussion, for sure!                8/19/09

The Killer Shrews

The Killer Shrews-I hated this movie! Boring. Drab. Uninteresting. Low-budget and not in the good way. Stupid. Sleep-inducing and an endurance test to make it to the thank God it's here conclusion. Truly,honestly and factually unbearable. Fans of this must be decendents of the cast.       8/29/09

Viva

This is a very authentic facsimile of early 1970's sexploitation. I give writer/director Anna Biller a lot of credit. The dialogue definately hits the mark as did the omni-present soundtrack. The fashions, the set decoration and hair styles all accounted for and accurate to that time period AND the specific look required for all those early '70's grade Z skin flicks. Have to once again commend the music throughout especially the piece played during the main menu with the sound of vinyl surface noise added softly-a real nice touch. Got the title right too-"Viva". Again, very accurate to the time. And now the but. For all the splendid effort Anna put into this, she's just wrong for the part. Sorry Anna but a white girl should have been the star. Because that was what it was back then with the very few exceptions-Linda Wong for instance. You WERE striving for accuracy weren't you? Your co-star Bridget who played Sheila was right on the mark. I also agree with another reviewer that this lasted too long and I lost interest and became bored 'bout half way through. It was just too much of the same thing. I was also thinking a little scratching on the film ala Grindhouse couldn't have hurt. Very good behind the scenes is included as a bonus.        9/17/09

The Baron:The Complete Series

Watched disc 3 from this set with a generous helping of 4 episodes. My favorite was 'Something For A Rainy Day' which featured Bonds' Lois Maxwell looking smart in a caramel colored shiny plastic mac. Her appearance in this episode really stretches out and shows off her acting skills much more than the brief screen time she was alloted for the Bond pictures. Invaluable is this episode's commentary with Sue Lloyd wherein she describes how lucky she was to have worked with Maxwell, noting what a consummate actress she was. This commentary also informatively sheds light on all aspects of this episode as well the the whole series. A great benefit having this commentary. My central reason for renting this was my attraction to The Baron's fetching sidekick Cornelia played by Sue Lloyd. I was first smitten by miss Lloyd having seen her in The Ipcress File and wanted to see more. She appears in all 4 episodes on this disc and I would describe her as a brunette Jill St. John, also resembing the actress Joan Hackett but with a British accent of course. She plays Emma Peel to Steve Forrests' Baron character and I just find her extremely sexy. I also loved the prominence of a white French Citroen car featured in '..Rainy Day'. Lots of cold war/spies/drugged victims in these episodes with my only gripe being the studio back lot sets standing in for city street scenes that had to be used. Very well made otherwise. Fine acting all around. And The Barons' charming collegue Cornelia brightening every scene she's in!       10/3/09

MST3K:The Touch Of Satan

I can't believe it, this is now my favorite episode of mystery science theater! With maybe a couple exceptions, EVERY line dished out by Mike and the crew are 100% grade A laugh-perfect! As an added bonus Pearl is absent for the side skits, replaced by the very cute Steffi the babysitter.       10/28/09

The Model Shop

Seems like 50% of this film follows our protagonist driving up and down and round and round the sunny streets of L.A., from the beaches of Venice to the hills overlooking the city to the sidewalks of the Sunset Strip. And that's just fine with me, because I really can't get too much of vintage film footage of southern California circa 1968, thank you Jacques Demy very much. And then there is the opening backing up tracking shot which reminded me of a smaller scale opening to the Shining but placed at the beach instead of a mountainside. The camera tracks back to the small beach dwelling of Gloria and George where we find the two just waking up and wondering what the day holds in store. With George/not working and Gloria losing her patience. He grows tired of her concerns and splits in search of a hundred bucks to stop his car from being repossessed. Which brings me back to those long exterior shots of George in his Army-green paint MG roadster that he has to fold one leg underneath himself to insert himself into. George does manage to scrounge up the hundred bucks from the singer in the band Spirit and then promptly, without a care begins to spend it on things other than his car,such as taking photographs of a strange (as in not known to him)woman he has followed to a 'model shop' an extinct business where men would go to snap pics of women,$12 for 15 mins. Love these long lost dips into film from this time period and it's all over Model Shop. I only wish the part of George's infatuation were played by another actress rather than Anouk Aimee who I thought to be tiny and rodent-like and someone it doesn't seem to me George would be so distracted by although he does mention her French accent reminds him of another French girl he met once. Anyway, George is all screwed up with the fear of being drafted and Lola (Aimee)takes him away from all that, for a while. Always try.                11/11/09

A Christmas Carol

Brilliant! But it wasn't until just after the appearance of the ghost of Scrooges' late partner Jacob Marley that I was really hooked. It was the arrival of the ghost of Christmas past with his head a quivering flame that stopped me wondering how I was feeling about this adaptation because from this point onward the magic firmly set in. The lusty laugh of the ghost of Christmas present perched broadly atop the world's most bountiful Christmas tree in a gigantic room shining, sparkling and glowing with reds and greens......just beautiful. Just wonderful. So fulfilling. Love how Gary Oldmans' Bob Cratchet turns to the camera in the last scene to tell the tale of a changed man. Applause greeted the finale at the theater I attended, me included.       11/13/09

The Committee

What sprang to my mind soon after the beginning of this film was a comparison with the style of David Lynch. And it's quite surreal, well, it's surreal, this film, into and of itself anyway, but it's surreal to be watching something clearly happening in 1968 yet so similar to the film world of the Lynch films which didn't enter the arena for another 10 years. But, be that as it may, this beautifully shot black and white film is a ponderous affair, all speculation, questions, thoughts, reflections and theory that if a dvd was ever supported by the bonus interviews, this is it! The bonus interviews with writer and director shed much light on the films intentions. A word about the legendary soundtrack by the pink floyd: there is a main theme that arrives 12 mins., in and reappears near films end at the 51 min. mark. First time we hear this theme it's a sprightly bouncey little instrumental rocker, just a couple minutes long but is played in a slower version and longer(5 mins.)as the film closes. inbetween, during the middle section of the movie Floyd contribute fragmentary soundscapes but it is these two sections of main theme that are really worth hearing         11/17/09

Sandy Denny:Under Review

As good a career retropective as you're want to find with but one or two quibbles have I,those being an unfortunate dearth of filmic record of the queen of British folk-rock, the other the scant amount of time given to the music being discussed. I do believe the makers of this would have liked to have presented much more film of Sandy and perhaps it's a case of there really isn't that much available so I will cut them some slack on that part. This dvd opens with a beautiful color film of Sandy performing solo avec guitar but is abruptly aborted as one of the journalists enlisted for this program is given camera time to lay out his assessment of what Sandy brought to the world. Which is fine, and interesting, but, what of this extraordinary film we were just being treated to for roughly 17 seconds? Later on in the program a similar conundrum appears when we see Sandy performing with her Fotheringay but for what must be all of 10 or 15 seconds. Extremely frustrating to say the least. My music quibble regards the standard playing time given to whatever song is being talked about. Such classics as Matty Groves and A Sailors Life are spun if it seems ONLY to give you the briefest sample before hurtling right back to the speaker eloguently paying tribute to said song. Again I shall give the programers the benefit of some doubt-perhaps they are only alloted no more than 20 or 30 seconds tops to present a song before some contractural breach is crossed. I don't know. But it DOES make me go pull out my Unhalfbricking and Liege & Lief for the proper attention. These quibbles aside, and as I stated up front, from the generous amount of photographs and interviews with insightful journo's and especially ex-band mates of Sandys'-Daves Swarbrick and Mattacks as well as John Renbourn and Martin Carthy we are lead along the complete career path of Sandy Denny and I can't imagine a better or more thorough documentation examined.     12/9/09

MST3K:The Corpse Vanishes

This opens with the short serial film "Radar Men From The Moon" which I thought was pretty entertaining all by itself but of course you get your supplemental wisecracks from Joel and co.,..."signal your intent" as a slow-moving space ship jockeys for take off. Loved the space man costumes. But the main course, of course is the Corpse Vanishes starring Bela Lugosi as a polite bride killer foiled by perky cub reporter Pat Hunter played by Luana Walters. Walters got me through this creaking slow boat to China seeming to be the only character with a pulse! Joel does get some good lines in: "dr. Lorenze is a doctor himself but he has no license to practise"-Joel:"making him a quack" and Crow: "how do I know the rest isn't a cockeyed nightmare?"-Crow:"or a nighteyed cockmare" but I was REALLY put to sleep with first season's Josh Weinstein voicing Tom Servo as if he were in a club-bludgeoned trance. I could not WAIT to return to a non-season 1 episode to get my Murphy/Servo back! Joel treats us with a perfect Lugosi impression which, actually, isn't THAT hard to duplicate but still-very fun! The intermission skits were dull as dishwater with the exception of Joel and the mad's invention exchange.I did like Shout Factory's inclusion of two trailers for The Middle Man(had not heard of this and the actress reminds me of Janeane Garofalo) and Parker Lewis Can't Lose sets. My overall feeling for this disc is the short and the feature were good enough on their own to watch even without the MST-freshmen quips and delivery of, but they DO get in some good zingers here and there so you really can't lose either way you slice it.     1/5/10

MST3K:Warrior of the Lost World

This is a good MST3K disc. You've got your host segments which are all good..you've got your main film which is artfully, skillfully, comically(of course)and masterfully skewered by Joel, Tom and Crow and you've got TWO bonus features-1. an enlightening interview with Lost World director David Worth (less) and 2. production stills described by David. Many many laughs are to be had listening to the crew jag this film and Crow's impersonations of a Scot race car announcer, Charles Nelson Reilly and Redd Foxx are as accurate as can be. Tom's introduction speech in skit 1 is hilarious. The slot car skit ("HOT SLOT BOTS!!") ("I couldn't beat Margaret Dumont!"-Servo)and the piano lounge/Crow as Mrs. Warrior skit are priceless. Clayton and Frank's Square Master demo, perfectly excellent too-I especially love the writing for this with Dr. Forrester narrating as Frank gets all hot and sweaty using his new exercising tool. Good Joel episode...for those in doubt. His and Tom's Scope/Robitusson dissertation in the dance club scene is awe-inspiring it's so professionally executed. Entertainingly funny from start to finish. Warrior of the Lost World theme music though-bleeeeeeeech!                1/6/10

Women In Trouble

Rented this for Carla Gugino and the catchy cover art...wound up being very impressed with Adrianne Palicki's Holly Rocket as well as Marley Shelton playing a flight attendant. Also was moved with Sarah Clarke when her cheated on therapist confronts her guilty husband. Good interweaving story revealing how women think-two guys liked it very much-my friend and I. Also liked the music supplied by Robyn Hitchcock, the groove during the main menu being a prime example. You also get a bunch of deleted scenes to enjoy.       3/19/10

Film Crew:Hollywood After Dark

This is a good MST episode except it's The Film Crew! So, it is VERY close to the hearts of MST-land. Mike, Bill and Kevin do a very good job getting us through Hollywood After Dark. You just can't believe movies like this were made at one point in our history. I wish I could travel back in time to find myself sitting in whatever flea-bitten movie house it was that was actually showing this flick to whatever assortment of customers that payed to see this. On second thought, maybe that's not such a good idea. But it is GREAT riffing material and as I say the boys do not disappoint. I must say, even though Hollywood After Dark is absurd, ridiculous, hard-to-believe, depressing, silly and fun I would watch it even w/o the Film Crew's ribbing, because, it's so, well, it's just so cheap but well filmed and the dialogue is not all muffled like a bunch of other MSTied movies-you can hear the actors speaking clearly and some of the scenes are very nice, like the beach scenes and the final shot of the highway patrol surrounding the satchel of flying cash. I recommend The Film Crew's journey through Hollywood After Dark and if you are a fan of MST it is safe to say you will like this. I have to side in with the others comments however that the Film Crew's 'tween movie skits are not very good.     4/22/10

Film Crew:Wild Women of Wongo

I am a fan of Mystery Science Theater and I must declare that after having seen The Film Crew's Hollywood After Dark and now Wild Women of Wongo I have no other choice but to obtain the Crews' brief but essential 4-disc legacy. Mike, Bill and Kevin's jokes during Wongo are every bit as good as your typical MST episode. And WWoW was a PERFECT vehicle for the Crew's or,had they discovered this gem, the MST crew to feast upon. The comic bullseye in Wongo occurs half way through when we are treated to a trance-like tribal dance by the native women after being ordered to "DANCE!!" "DANCE!!" by the high priestess(a Cher/Gene Simmons clone). And THE funniest thing I have ever seen in ALL of my Mystery Science Theater watching and now with the Film Crew is to witness Mike, Bill and Kevin obeying the screams of the high priestess to DANCE!! in the disc's bonus feature. My only lament is the loss of our two cute robots Tom and Crow who would sit and watch and dance about with Mike or Joel in sillouette in the first row and provide highly entertaining 'tween movie skits.      4/28/10

Zack Galifianakas:Live

"Hello, I'm Zach Galifanakis" --long pause-- "I hope I'm pronouncing that right". Zach presides over the rapt Purple Onion audience with a barrel full of sharp one-liners such as the above. His delivery,the essential 'comic timing' that every successful comedian must have,is honed and perfected and he's just fun to LOOK at with his rusty-orange beard and piercing steely eyes. Half of the show he's sitting at the piano(see DVD cover)playing soft nothings-a very nice touch-as he presents his jokes. You also get outside of the club exteriors with Zach and pal cruising around in a very appropriate ORANGE mico-bus. This disc also includes interviews with Zach's brother Seth,a truly remarkable resemblance(wink). An absolute highlight comes in the bonus features involving Zach approaching an audience member and inducing her to , well, you'll just have to see!     5/14/10

The Killer Inside Me

our culture now is committed to stark exposures of high violence, love of slasher films and their beloved gore. I've heard it labeled gore porn. Half, probably more, of the formerly great population of the U.S. now C R A V E S high-end brutal acts of violence, thanks to popular filth/scum 'movies' such as SAW. This explains why a relatively simple murder story like Killer Inside Me must debase its story with two scenes of stomach churning violence that I had to shut my eyes to as the rest of the audience in attendance apparently lapped it up like hungry dogs. Scene #1 has Mr. Affleck pummeling......brutally and mercilessly beating beyond recognition Jessica Alba. This scene goes on for what seems like an unending 2 plus minutes. It really altered what until then had been a very interesting slice of retro film noir. And if you didn't get enough of the gratuitous gore, you are rewarded with a second scene, in which your hero once again beats the life out of the sweetest character in the film played by kate hudson, just in case you sniveling SAW lovers are getting bored. The grand finale is another hunk of maniacal violence sure to satisfy the death mongers that the makers of this film quite obviously are courting. I would take some scissors to the hyper violent stretches of this movie and turn it into something respectable and watchable. Otherwise this remains on the trash heap for all you gore voyeurs to moan about how there wasn't ENOUGH of it.     7/12/10

Billion Dollar Brain

Michael Caine's 3 movies starring as Harry Palmer in the 1960's were just as much fun as the James Bond series. Caine exuded a certain twinkling charisma every bit as captivating as Sean Connery's Bond. Billion Dollar Brain was the last of the 3 pictures for Caine as Palmer following Funeral In Berlin and The Ipcress File. Palmer is directed by Colonel Ross (wonderfully played by Guy Doleman) to infiltrate a plot to snuff out the Russians, being mounted by Texas caricature General Midwinter played by Ed Begley. The thing with all of the Harry Palmer movies is that not just Guy Doleman gives a wonderful performance but all of the principals do including Oskar Homolka as the Russian who has befriended "English" (his pet name for Palmer), Karl Malden as not so friendly Leo and the "twice-crossing" femme fatale Anya played by Francois Dorleac in her last film role. You might want to switch on the English Subtitles this DVD helpfully provides once Francois arrives on the scene with her heavy French accent: "you want my fingerpwints?" .. "my name isn't dully!" (when Palmer addresses her as dolly) or when Leo tells Palmer to meet him at Eiwort's. The Finland locations for this movie always hold the interest and you have to love the famous green trams of Helsinki. After watching BDB, go to "Film locations Billion Dollar Brain-Harry Palmer" for amazing now and then photo's.    9/17/10

Mystery Science Theater 3000:Hobgoblins

okay here is my opinion of Hobgoblins(MST3K style)...The makers of the film can thank their lucky stars that MST3K gave it their patented treatment because on its own its a horrible grind to have to be forced to sit through. The SOL crew spice up the awfully slow and boring proceedings of the film with their sharp witticisms, otherwise this movie would be punishing to watch. Especially the first half hour where an aging security guard attempts to train a couple of new employees. But as I say, the juicy quips of Mike and co., help to make it watchable. The film picks up a tad with the introduction of Kevin and his friends but to beat a dead horse, if all of this wasnt handled marvelously by our three friends there would be a LOT of ejecting. The consistantly comical riffs all during the movie are the only reason anyone could sit through this, but for the REAL icing, the between movie skits are all top notch. They include Crows home-made documentary Lets Talk About Women, the introduction skit didnt mean to turn you on and one skit where Mike, Crow and Tom are bouncing up and down on the couch cushions in their jammies. And that menu theme song! I love it!! In conclusion: Hobgoblins movie itself-F MST3K treatment and skits-A+       10/2/10

Leaving

What a strange experience. We go and see this movie, expecting your basic run-of-the-mill French drama but after a while it became a Mystery Science Theater experiement. Which didnt bother the other patrons because we were the only two in the theater. The film starts off logically but little by little, with the downward spiral of the leading lady, the whole affair became evermore outlandish, even comical, leaving us to mock the incredible loss of reality by Suzanne played by KST. The movie is clearly a tragedy but Suzanne sinks to such depths so quickly and so unrelenting that we were reduced to sarcastically jabbing back at the screen as the story wildly unfolded. If you want to watch a woman determedly careening her life over the cliff this is an excellent portrayal but at the same time it was all so ridiculously hard to sympathize with.      11/14/10

MST3K:The Girl in Lover's Lane

The Girl in Lovers Lane is the tale of Big Stupid and his dopey buddy who blow into town on their way to nowhere. Here, Big falls for the counter girl at the malt shop, or, rather the counter girl falls for Big and the dopey buddy needs to be changed. Kerry, the counter girl, eager to go out for a walk with Big, explains to her father why she likes Big so much:" Hes easy to talk to". To which her father replies, " your grandmothers easy to talk to-take a walk with HER". This is not a bad movie. A little slow perhaps but the MST crew keep it very lively with their assortment of wisecracks throughout. A train barreling down the tracks straight at the audience-Joel: "CAMERA 3 GET OFF THE TRACKS AAAAAGHHH!!!" A definate highlight of this episode is Joel and the bots intermission skit where they sing a hobo train song-funny and delightful all rolled up into one! And the discs bonus feature called "behind the scenes MST3K scrapbook scraps II" is incredibly interesting (if you like MST) wherein we get to see backstage during filming and script rehearsal.     12/30/10

The Illusionist

Most of the reviews here praise the animation of this film but I think what they mean is the artwork. How everything was drawn is what is stunning and beautiful, not the animation. I savored the lush, gorgeous artwork but as with another reviewer here the story grew boring for me and I actually needed to leave...which is not to say I don't recommend this as all the positive reviews can attest. The artwork is a pleasure to look at. Oh and the sound effects were very interesting as well.    2/10/11

From Beyond the Grave

A nice quartet of stories joined together by a linking visit to a back alley antique shop run by a little old man played by Peter Cushing. This movie is very British and filmed in the early 1970s, a combination Im a sucker for every time. The highlight for me was the final story co-starring a pre-fame Leslie Anne Down minus the hyphen in her name. Each story is of the old-fashioned horror style meaning no blood and guts..just creepy, sinister and spooky with a little humor mixed in for story #3. Donald Pleasances daughter acts alongside her father in one of the stories. That was interesting. And the decade + past her prime Diana Dors bravely makes an appearance. An excellent opening credits sequence as the camera pans through a mist enshrouded graveyard with the faint sounds of crying, moaning and screams punctuating the soundtrack.   3/19/11

Count Dracula's Great Love

Very interesting flick. Is this Italian? Mexican? Well, its SOMETHING, because it was a struggle hearing English being spoken while everyones lips were mouthing something COMPLETELY different! But you know how that goes-its kind of fun in a zonked out way :) That aside, this is a very well made film with mucho creepy atmoshphere. As the story evolves, the polite characters become entwined in increasingly darker and darker circumstances. The once ladylike women of the story soon become blood hungry vampires proudly baring their new fangs. Elvira makes for some fun interludes but beware the central skit involving how to dress your meat-this had me considering never to watch another Elvira offering again. But I will because, that one incredibly dopey skit notwithstanding, the mistress of the dark always brightens the mood and I was very impressed with the pedigree of Count Draculas Great Love!     3/28/11

Village of the Giants

As Netty says above,This movie is: Campy,Goofy,Imaginative. It begins with a great opening credits sequence-giant slow motion teenagers-hair flying, hips jerking,faces in ecstasy with the mastadon-like theme The Last Race by Jack Nitzsche lumbering in the background. This is followed by a classic opening scene wherein a pack of wacked out southern California teens spill out of their crashed powder-blue T-bird with the car radio blasting a song by the Beau Brummels and commence to slosh around in the sloppy,gooey mud with the rain streaming down all over their faces and tight clothes. They frug and watuzi and they shimmy wildly and twist and groove their brains out! Must be seen to be believed. Later on they all convene to the Whiskey A Go Go where the teens dance yet again to a live performance by the Beau Brummels,this time in the flesh. But the BEST part are two giant ducks who have nipped at the magical formula invented by boy genius Ron Howard and are waddling their feathers and hopping up and down to the music. A serious highlight in this movie is a long scene, mid-way, where the upstart,forumula nipping and now gigantic teens introduce themselves to the awe-struck townsfolk. They subject them to a display of wanton and lustful dancing and hip-shaking, all in slow motion and once again to the moanful dirge of Nitzsches Last Race. Really creepy! Other highlights include Freddie Cannon poping up out of nowhere to sing a peppy little number and a no-holds-barred dance performance by Toni Basil. This cult hit was picked by Mystery Science Theater to honor which should make it even BETTER but alas, THAT is not out on dvd yet but this is great fun all by itself!      5/11/11

Scream...and Die!

I have this on VHS with the American title The House That Vanished-a much better title than its original British title, for this is much more of a house that vanished type movie than a crude scream...AND DIE! type (although a grizzly murder does takes place). I was hoping the DVD version would have a sharper image but there is not much difference. Its a slightly fuzzy picture-perhaps a tad better than the videotape. The film itself-the story, the characters and the actors make for a nice little tale of suspense. But for me, what really makes this film memorable is the early 1970s time period and the British setting. The leading lady Andrea Allan is very attractive and the atmosphere throughout the movie very well done. With a new updated transfer-or remastered-a new print struck from the negative/is that how you say it?... this would be a quite respectable and enjoyable flick.

 5/23/11

Wild Target

Delightful.......and goofy and quirky as netty says. A feast for Blunt fans and Mr. Nighy, Grint and Atkins are all wonderful, as is Rupert-the entire cast. The delicious London settings and E.B.s wardrobe...and Bills as well for that matter. Funny, witty, charming and the ubiquitous goofy and quirky all checked in an accounted for. Really enjoyed this and knew NOTHING of it! hmmmm....the little gems that exist out there resting peacefully under the radar!    5/21/11

Two in the Wave

 

Explains the origin of and expression New Wave cinema, birthed in 1950s France. This is a complete chronicle of the film makers, and in some cases, film critics who became film makers, who, inspired by an earlier generation of film makers, set out to forge a new type of cinema, hence the term new wave (a new style of film making).. And specifically, this film documents the career of two of the New Waves most respected film directors-Godard and Truffaut. A very thorough examination of this film movement, beginning at the dawn of 1950 and proceeding with a detailed account of its evolution. Facinating, educational and thought-provoking.    6/1/11

Dark Passage

 I was annoyed, as a certain percentage of other viewers have been, that this movie begins and proceeds for quite some time without showing the star of the movie Humphrey Bogart, understanding of course that this is a function of the plot, but nevertheless making me a little impatient. About an hour into the movie, our hero does indeed appear but along the way, we have been treated to a number of auxillary performances-these I would like to herald. Firstly, the memorable character played by Tom D'Andrea, who as a cab driver, picks Bogart up and takes him to a very hush-hush plastic surgeon down a dark alley-at 3 A.M. Next, that very same doctor, played with a twinkle in his eye, by Houseley Stevenson-a very memorable performance. Thirdly, the bravaro acting of Agnes Moorehead, culminating in a shocking exit. Also of special mention is the part played by the movie's location-that of late 1940's San Francisco. The city's unique personality is very present throughout Dark Passage. Which brings us back to our two main leads-Ms. Bacall and the formidable Mr. Bogart. Lauren grows in enticement as the film progresses and the always dependable Bogie battles through a few rough patches to ultimately come out on top. As if we didn't know. A different kind of classic from the golden age of classic film.     6/23/11

Drive Angry

I'm not a fan of the 'action' genre, and make no mistake, that is the type of flik Drive Angry is. But alas, I was lured in by the sight of Amber Heard in the previews and rent I did. To my surprise, I thoroughly enjoyed this action vehicle and upon reflection, I attribute that to the sense of humor employed during Drive Angry. The movie is not just explosions, curse words, nudity, guns and killing, all of which are present and accounted for. It's also a lot of fun as we meet the characters, starting with Fat Joe and the ultra-sexy Piper(Heard) and her dopey, has-it-coming-to-him boyfriend. But without a doubt, the FUNNEST (!) character in Drive Angry is played by William Fichtner, an agent from Hell sent above to retrieve an escaped resident from Hell (Cage).     6/24/11

Larry Crowne

2011 My 4th of July treat. Larry Crowne "with an e" was one hour and 38 minutes of pleasure. A happy and fun story about a man who takes the lemons of life and makes lemon aid. "Associates" of big box stores will appreciate the opening scene. Larry Crowne is a exemplary employee at U Mart. Full of enthusiasm and heartfelt sincerity in pleasing customers and management. Larry has been Employee of the Month nine times. Shockingly, Larry loses his job at U Mart due to cut backs. Tom Hanks range of facial emotions, of course are priceless. Tom's character Larry, is receptive to leaving comfort zones, exploring new avenues and making new friends. He is a man of experience having 20 years of the Navy life and discipline under his belt and no stranger to hard work. Larry Crowne signs up for a couple college classes in his characteristically positive and respectful manner. There are some corny moments but they work for me! For the viewer, there's countless opportunities to smile and laugh. In fact, I missed some of the dialogue due to audience laughter. Julia Roberts plays Mercedes Tainot, one of Larry teachers. His reaction to their first kiss is worth the price of admission! Larry proves more trustworthy than Mercedes when it comes to keeping a matter private. Lots of happy and satisfied folks left the theater. On a scale of 1 to 5, I give Larry Crowne "with an e" 5 shining stars. There was one or two swear words but the rest was quite wholesome and that's my cup of tea! Marybeth Slabby ;)      7/6/11

Exporting Raymond

Philip is a great host as he narrates his adventures behind the iron curtain. It wasn't easy getting the Russians to understand how to pull off a Russian version of Everybody Loves Raymond but Philip ultimately gets through to them. I was a little tentative when we choose to watch one of the bonus features, a completed Russian version of Raymond, spoken in Russian with English subtitles, but it was very funny.     9/16/11

I,Monster

I've had a disinterested attitude concerning actor Christopher Lee prior to seeing this rustic gem from Hammer studios rival Amicus productions. He plays a doctor experimenting with behavior altering chemicals. Up until his first injections, Lee's character in the movie is a rather reserved, quiet man, who, when not seen putzing around in his laBORatory, also finds the time to stroll on over to his local gentlemen's club to discuss the fine points of morality and ethics with his fellow doctors, among them Peter Cushing, who clashes with Lee's outre philosophy. Dr. Marlowe(Lee): "Suppose that, just for a while, we could let loose the reins, fullfill our desires without restriction, without control. I think I might choose either." Dr. Utterson (Cushing): "Well surely the essence of civilization is the restriction of individual appetite by the individual himself for the good of all mankind." Back in the lab, Dr. Marlowe does indeed self-inject his experimental serum and it is here that I was awakened by the performance of Mr. Lee. His mannerisms, body language and facial expressions as he undergoes a transformation into a careless, violent beast was captivating. Cushing's Utterson is compationate and level headed in trying to help his friend whom he sees tumbling into the abyss. I describe this as an elegant tale of terror minus the gore that is now demanded from the modern day horror audience. This dvd, put out by one Retromedia company, comes with a grindhouse style trailer-quite fun to watch, and one of those pre-film "our feature presentation" intro's with the swirling circles and classic theme that Tarantino pinched for Death Proof if memory serves.      11/6/11

Maniac

Maniac 1963 Filmed in the French countryside, we meet an American tired of his girlfriend and decides to shack up with a mother and daughter who run a small cafe. The Maniac of the title, married to the horse-riding mother/cafe owner, is locked away in a nearby asylum for the crime of taking a blow torch to the rapist who assaulted the daughter years before. The film rolls along very gingerly, adding layer upon layer of character development,which, just bored me, but I stuck with it to the end and am glad I did because the final act really pays off.     11/18/11

American Grindhouse

Very informative. I don't know what this documentary DOESN'T cover! Was most impressed with the running interview conducted with film director John Landis-who knew this guy had such a sparkling personality? But that's neither here nor there. All of the guests bring something educational to this informed crash course on American cinema, from polished and accepted Hollywood fare on down, and WAY down.....down to the unsavory depths where tongues are ripped out of heads and women's arms are yanked off their torso. All of this is explained, patiently and logically, giving the viewer a complete understanding of how exploitation weaved its way, inch by inch, into film, decade by decade. No stone is unturned, allowing all the creepy, disgusting things that reside beneath to make their grand appearance. Not that you want them to. Or want them to, as is so apparently made clear.       12/8/11

Haywire

This is the new Steven Soderberg movie that I wasn't sure about. What, another high-action, speeding car movie? All doubt has now been erased and I mourn the decision by the director who is considering retiring from film making, from what I've read. The next Bond movie can aspire to being this good. Great leading lady (newcomer Gina Carano) moving through various European and U.S., locations with an all-star cast and a nifty storyline and a music score that had me paying attention-something I never do. Excellent movie from top to bottom. Gets the first entry in my best movies of 2012.      Feb. 8

Z Channel:A Magnificent Obsession

One of the few documentaries where the assembled talking heads did not tire me out. We learn everything there is to know about this long lost and fondly remembered pioneer cable television channel. We learn it from a score of film makers and people connected to the core of its foundation. The Z channel, under the leadership of Jerry Harvey, brought art style film into the homes of 100,000 people in the Los Angeles area in the 1980's. Films that rarely bothered the mainstream where the type Harvey sought and programmed for the channel. The many odes of gratitude from movie directors and actors for Jerry and the channel in helping to exose their works up from obscurity...to give them a 2nd life, is prevalent. Watching this documentary, we get to see many clips from the films shown on Z. I for one, now have a yearning to see such movies previously unknown to me as Overlord and Images and perhaps, Turkish Delight. As I began this review, I want to express how much I enjoyed listening to the comments from Robert Altman, James Woods, Alexander Payne and Henry Jaglom to name just a few. And I shan't be remiss in not mentioning the other side of this story..that of Jerry Harvey. His programming determination is what gave Z its life, which in turn brought inspiration and culture to a grateful audience. Along with that vision, Harvey also harbored a destructive demon that brings this story to a sad ending. But for a tme, before the tragedy, this documentary shows how wonderful the Z channel was and how so far far away in the past it all seems. I think the closest relative to the vision of the Z channel that we have today is the Criterion Collection.    8/11/12

Cosmopolis

 

Not a big Cronenberg fan but after being impressed with Dangerous Methods, I gave this a shot. I liked the running visual from within the heavily fortified stretch limo that show the outside world silently and slowly passing by. The overall theme of Wall Street=bad, permeates the storyline with lead character Eric portrayed as the slimey, got-it-coming viper that we've all been programmed to dispise, because, there are no other kind. Vintage Cronenberg followers, and, actually, much of the worlds population, will appreciate the one graphic scene where a man being interviewed on television is horribly attacked with a knife repeatedly and, as I say, graphically, being gutted into his eye. That bit of thrill being dispensed, we return to the philosophical agenda on hand via Cronenbergs' pen, that sums up the bleak and endless, and inevitable end of Capitalism(everyone's current love-to-hate baby) graciously spelled out by Eric's idea's councelor Samantha Morton. Eric's free-fall includes urinating, standing up in his stretch to blowing the brains out of his trusty body guard(an incredible Christopher Walken clone). I'm glad I saw this, just so I know what it is, but others will revel in its technically complicated, timely and depressing scenario. Back to basics then for DC with DM being an uncomplicated, dated and interesting pass-over.     8/27/12

Seeing Neil Young

Bridgeport Arena-Dec. 4, 2012.
Courtesy of Rich Boshea, me, Don and Dave.
Walked out on to the floor with Patti Smith joined in progress.
"I saw Neil Young at the Fillmore in 1971".
and "My mother was born in Bridgeport."
Excellent performer, her and her band.
Neil and band come unstage to sing along to the national anthem with a giant American flag stage-rear.
Neil in strong, clear voice.
Powderfinger.
Two big screens show closeups and angles from within the drummer's pit. 
Giand walking across the land.
Neil walks onstage just guitar and sings Needle...
and then another song concluding with acappella along by himself and walking over to the
upright for a song featuring a girl holding a guitar case meandering about the stage.
after the second song, Neil says hello to the audience, thanking them for coming down and mentioning how the weather today had been mild.
Does the song Ontario.
Cinnemon Girl.
Mr. Soul.
hey hey my my.

Blade Runner

Saw this at a theater's midnight movie showing last night after not seeing it in 25 years and these are my impressions. The setting is the year 2019 and as I write this, year 2012, I laughed during the interrogation scene when we see the doomed office blade runner smoking quite religiously. Back in 1982, Ridley Scott wouldn't have dreamed of the nazi ban on smoking.  Also, the heavy presence of Asian's througout the story did not foresee the omnipresent influx of Muslims in today's west, let alone 7 years from now. But who knew? The story is interesting with lead character Harrison Ford taking on the chore of eliminating 4 rouge robots. I have read that this is considered to be Ford's best role. In my own opinion, I grew tired of his awe-shucks demeaner, which fortunately he slipped out of from time to time especially the scenes of struggle/relationship with almost human Rachel. Sean Young's portrayal of a highly advanced robot is touching and heartbreaking. Heartbreaking in her feelings of wanting to be human yet knowing she is not. Her scenes with Ford made this movie worthwhile for me. Without them, it's an okay sci-fi flick...well, better than okay. Visually interesting. But the Decker/Rachel relationship is what I will remember Blade Runner for.

favorite movies of 2009

1.Star Trek
2.The Brothers Bloom
3.A Christmas Carol
4.Coraline
5.Paris 36
6.The International
7.Surrogates
8.Public Enemies
9.Taken
10.The Messenger
11.Duplicity
12.The Private Lives of Pippa Lee
13.A Serious Man

favorite movies of 2012

Haywire
Moonrise Kingdom
 One For the Money
Salman Fishing in the Yemon
Damsels in Distress
the best exotic marigold hotel
Dark Shadows
Lola Versus
To Rome With Love
Hit and Run
2016
Skyfall
Silver Lining Playbook
Oscar animated shorts (Fresh Guacamole/Paperman/Adam and dog)